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United States Patent5321750
NadanJune 14, 1994
Title
Restricted information distribution system apparatus and methods
Abstract
A system for securely providing restricted display information having an encoder-transmitter for transmitting selected update data using information identification codes as enabling reception keys and a plurality of uniquely identified decoder-receivers for receiving the update data for display on a video screen. Authorized decoders are provided with enable reception keys so that subsequently transmitted data having an information identification code matching a reception key at a decoder-receiver may be received for subsequent display on the video screen. Symbolic signaling is used so that enabling a decoder-receiver with a reception key also provides display coordinate information for displaying the update data in the proper relative display location for the video screen of that enabled decoder, so that the update data subsequently transmitted is displayed using that display coordinate information. Tile messaging and cellular micrographic transmission techniques are used to reduce the volume of data transmitted to changed display information (update data), wherein cells of characters are transmitted as one byte of data and cells of pixel data are transmitted a plurality of bytes of data. Each decoder-receiver may have a plurality of video screens separately and uniquely identified such that encoded update data and other messages are transmitted for specific video screens. The system includes multiplexing display information and television signals from different sources and transmitting the multiplexed signals to the decoder-receivers for selectively displaying different combinations of display information and/or television signals on different video screens.
Inventors:Nadan; Joseph S. (New York, NY)
Assignee:Market Data Corporation (New York, NY)
Appl. No.:880582
Filed:May 8, 1992
Current U.S. Class:380/230 380/240 725/109 725/25 725/37 348/476 
Field of Search:380/10,14,20,23,49,50 340/711,717,825.26,825.27 358/83,84,85,86,142,145,144,147 364/408,918.7,918,918.8 395/425,600,725
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Brochure entitled, "An Introduction to TRIARCH.TM. 2000," copyright 1989 Rich, Inc. .
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Primary Examiner: Swann; Tod R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:Davis Hoxie Faithfull & Hapgood
Parent Case Text


CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 698,231, filed May 6, 1991, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,576, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 590,525, filed Sep. 27, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 307,731, filed Feb. 7, 1989, now abandoned.
Claims

I claim:
1. A system for distributing signals containing display information, said system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a plurality of decoders for receiving the display information and generating the particular portions of display information, and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, wherein the system further comprises:
means for comparing received display information to previously received display information and for determining relative changes in display information, said means including a memory containing previously received display information and a comparator responsive to the memory and received display information so that the update data corresponds to the determined changes in display information; and is characterized in that the encoder comprises:
means for providing encoded update data for particular portions of display information to be positioned in a relevant video screen;
a signal generator having a first message stream followed by a second message stream,
the first message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to update data for each portion of display information and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the particular portions of display information each decoder is authorized to receive,
the second message stream including associated sets of first information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
and wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
a memory device for storing transmitted display information capable of being displayed on a video screen;
means for associating the decoder with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing in the memory device each first information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
second means for recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and for receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized first information identification code, thereby to update the stored portion of display information in the memory device corresponding to the recognized first information identification code.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each decoder further comprises a video screen, wherein the associating means associates the video screen with the one display identification code, further comprising a decoder signal generator for generating a visual display on the video screen of the stored portion of display information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the particular portions of display information include a first portion that further comprises television program information and a second portion that further comprises financial marker information, said first and second portions having unique first information identification codes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals, the encoder providing means is further characterized by:
means for providing update data corresponding to changes in particular portions of display information and a display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant location in the corresponding particular portion of display information;
wherein the encoder signal generator has a third message stream and a following fourth message stream, the third message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant location for a particular portion of display information, and a plurality of the display identification codes each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinate thereby to form first information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for particular portions of display information each decoder is authorized to receive, and the fourth message stream including associated sets of first information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
wherein each decoder first recognizing means further comprises means for storing any display coordinates for update data and any first information identification codes associated with the one recognized first display identification code in a third message stream; and
wherein each decoder is further characterized by third means for recognizing a first information identification code in a fourth message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and for receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized first information identification code in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with each first information identification code, wherein each decoder first recognizing means further comprises means for storing the received update data associated with the recognized first information identification code using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals, the encoder providing means is further characterized by:
means for providing update data corresponding to changes in the particular portions of display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant location in the corresponding particular portion of display information;
wherein the encoder signal generator has a third message stream and a fourth message stream, the third message stream including a plurality of the first information identification codes, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information having a first information identification code, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant location for the particular portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for particular portions of display information each decoder video screen is authorized to receive, the fourth message stream including associated sets of the second information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
and wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
third means for recognizing a first information identification code in a third message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and for storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the third message stream; and
fourth means for recognizing a second information identification code in a fourth message stream corresponding to a stored second information identification code and for receiving the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code and storing the retrieved update data in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with each said second information identification code wherein each decoder fourth recognizing means stores the received update data associated with the recognized second information identification code using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the encoder signal generator further has a fifth message stream including a plurality of the first information identification codes, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for particular portions of display information having a first information identification code, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant location of a particular portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder video screen is authorized to receive;
wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
fourth means for recognizing a first information identification code in a fifth message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and for storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the fifth message stream, and
wherein each decoder third recognizing means further comprises means for recognizing a first information identification code in the fourth message stream corresponding to a stored second information identification code and for receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized first information identification code in the memory device using the display coordinates associated with the corresponding stored second information identification code.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the encoder signal generator has a sixth message stream including associated sets of the second information identification codes and the corresponding update data, and wherein each decoder is further characterized by fifth means for recognizing a second information identification code in a sixth message stream corresponding to a stored second information identification code and for receiving the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code and storing the received update data in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with each said second information identification code wherein each decoder fifth recognizing means stores the received update data associated with the recognized second information identification code using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the encoder signal generator further comprises a seventh message stream including a plurality of the information identification codes corresponding to previously stored first and second information identification codes and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant location for a particular portion of display information, one of the information identification codes and one of the display coordinates being associated thereby to form information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each said stored information identification code.

12. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each decoder further comprises a plurality of video screens and the third message stream forms second information identification code - display coordinate - display identification code sets indicative of the relevant display location of the said particular portion of display information each video screen is authorized to receive and display, and wherein for each decoder:
the associating means associates each of the plurality of video screens with one of the display identification codes, and
the first, second and third recognizing means separately recognize those first information identification codes and second information identification codes associated with each one display identification code, and separately store first and second information identification codes, update data and display coordinates for each of the plurality of video screens.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the restricted signals comprise video signals.

14. A system for distributing securely signals containing restricted display information, said system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a .plurality of decoders for receiving the display information and generating the particular portions of display information, and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, characterized in that the encoder comprises:
means for comparing display information to previously received display information and for determining changes in display information;
means for providing update data corresponding to the determined changes in a particular portion of the display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for the particular portion of display information;
a signal generator having a first message stream and a second message stream, the first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to update data for each portion of display information, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in the relevant display location for the portion of display information, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinates thereby to form information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for a particular portion of display information each decoder video screen is authorized to receive, the second message stream including associated sets of information identification codes and the corresponding update data; and wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
a memory device for storing the transmitted display information capable of being displayed on a video screen;
means for associating the decoder with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing in the memory device each information identification code and display coordinate associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
second means for recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code and for receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized information identification code in the memory using the previously received display coordinates for that update data, thereby to update the stored portion of display information.

15. The apparatus claim 14 wherein each decoder further comprises a video screen, wherein the associating means associates the video screen with the one display identification code, further comprising a decoder signal generator for generating a visual display of the stored portion of display information on the video screen.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with the information identification code for each update data, wherein each decoder first recognizing means further comprises means for storing the received update data corresponding to the recognized information identification code using the selected display coordinates.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the display coordinates associated with each display identification code provide for positioning the display information of the associated information identification code in different relative locations at different decoders.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each portion of display information associated with the same information identification code is updated by one second message stream.

19. A system for distributing securely signals containing restricted display information, said system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a plurality of decoders for receiving the display information and generating the particular portions of display information, and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, characterized in that the encoder comprises:
means for comparing display information to previously received display information and for determining changes in display information;
means for providing update data corresponding to the determined changes in a particular portion of the display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for the particular portion of display information;
a signal generator having a first message stream, a second message stream, and a third message stream, the first message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form first information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the relevant display location of each of the particular portions of display information each decoder is authorized to receive, the second message stream including the plurality of first identification codes, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each said update data in a relevant display location for a particular portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one information identification code and one display coordinate thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive, the third message stream including associated sets of the second information identification codes and the corresponding update data; and wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
a memory device for storing the transmitted display information capable of being displayed on a video screen;
means for associating the decoder with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing in the memory device each first information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code;
second means for recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and for storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code;
third means for recognizing a second information identification code in a third message stream and for receiving the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code and storing the received update data in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data, thereby to update the stored portion of display information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each decoder further comprises a video screen, wherein the associating means associates the video screen with the one display identification code, further comprising a decoder signal generator for generating a visual display of the stored portion of display information on the video screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with the second information identification code for each update data wherein the decoder third recognizing means stores the update data corresponding to the recognized second information identification code in the third message stream using the selected display coordinates.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the encoder first signal generator has a fourth message stream including a plurality of the second information identification codes, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant display location of the particular portion of display information, and a plurality of the display identification codes, each of the second information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinate thereby to form second information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for a particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
wherein each decoder first recognizing means further comprises means for storing any display coordinates and any second information identification codes associated with the one recognized display identification code in a fourth message stream, and wherein each decoder is further characterized by:
fourth means for recognizing a second information identification code in a third message stream corresponding to a stored second information identification code and for receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code in the memory using the previously received display coordinates for that update data.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each portion of display information associated with the same second information identification code is updated by the same one third message stream.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the second message streams of the signal generator further include associated sets of first information identification codes and second information identification codes without display coordinate information, wherein the decoder second recognizing means stores the second information identification code associated with a recognized first information identification code.

25. A method for distributing signals containing display information in a system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a plurality of decoders for receiving the particular portions of display information and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
providing encoded update data for particular portions of display information to be positioned in a relevant display location for the particular portion of display information including the steps of, for each portion of display information, comparing received display information to previously received display information and determining relative changes in display information so that the encoded update data corresponds to the determined changes in display information;
generating a first message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to update data for particular portions of display information and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the particular portions of display information each decoder is authorized to receive,
generating a second message stream following the first message stream including associated sets of first information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
associating each decoder with one of the unique display identification codes; and, for each decoder,
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and storing in a memory device of the decoder each first information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code, receiving and storing the update data in the second message stream associated with the recognized first information identification code, thereby to update the stored portion of display information in the memory.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing the decoder with a video screen, wherein the associating step associates the one display identification with the video screen, and generating a visual display of the stored portion of display information on the video screen.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the particular portions of display information include a first portion that further comprises television program information and a second portion that further comprises financial market information, the method further comprising providing said first portion with a first unique first identification code and providing the second portion with a second unique first information identification code.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the system distributes securely, restricted display information signals, wherein the step of providing encoded update data for each portion of display information having a first information identification code further comprises:
comparing, for each portion of display information, the portion of display information to a previously received portion of display information, determining relative changes in the portion of display information and providing update data corresponding to the changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the particular portion of display information;
generating a third message stream-including a plurality of the first information identification codes, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to displaying each update data in a relevant display location for a particular portion of display information, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinate thereby to form first information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive; and
recognizing the one first display identification code in a third message stream and storing in the memory device any display coordinates for update data associated with the one recognized first display identification code in a third message stream.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising selecting the display coordinates associated with each first information identification code, and storing the received update data associated with a recognized first information identification code in a second message stream using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals, wherein the step of providing encoded update data for each portion of display information having a first information identification code further comprises comparing, for each portion of display information, the portion of display information to a previously received portion of display information, determining relative changes in the portion of display information and providing update data corresponding to the changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a-relevant display location for updating the particular portion of display information displayed; the method further comprising:
generating a third message stream including a plurality of the first information identification codes, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to displaying each update data in a relevant display location for a particular portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
generating a fourth message stream including associated sets of the second information identification codes and the corresponding update data; and, for each decoder,
recognizing a first information identification code in a third message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code, storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the memory; and
recognizing a second information identification code in a fourth message stream corresponding to a stored second information identification code, receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising: generating a fourth message stream including a plurality of the first information identification codes, a plurality of the second information identification codes, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to displaying each update data in a relevant display location of each portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive; and, for each decoder, recognizing a first information identification code in a fourth message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the fourth message stream in the memory.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the display coordinates associated with each first information identification code provide for positioning the particular portion of display information in different relative display locations at different decoder memory devices.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein each portion of display information associated with the same second information identification code is updated by the same one fourth message stream.

34. A method for distributing securely signals containing restricted display information in a system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a plurality of decoders for receiving the particular portions of display information, and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
comparing, for each portion of display information, received display information to previously received display information, determining relative changes in display information and providing update data corresponding to the changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the particular portion of display information;
generating a first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to update data for each portion of display information, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in the relevant display location for the portion of display information, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinates thereby to form information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for a particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
generating a second message stream including associated sets of information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
receiving the first and second message streams at each decoder and, for each decoder,
associating the decoder with one of the display identification codes;
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and storing in a memory device of the decoder each information identification code and display coordinate associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code, receiving and storing the update data associated with the recognized information identification code in the memory device using the previously received display coordinates for that update data, thereby to update the stored portion of display information.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:
providing the decoder with a video screen wherein the associating step associates the one display identification code with the video screen; and
generating a visual display of the stored portion of display information on the video screen.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising selecting the display coordinates associated with the information identification code for each update data, and storing the received update data corresponding to the one recognized information identification code using the selected display coordinates.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein providing the display coordinates associated with each display identification code provides for displaying the display information of the associated information identification code in different relative display locations on different video screens.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein each portion of display information associated with the same information identification code is updated by the same one second message stream.

39. A method for distributing securely signals containing restricted display information in a system including an encoder for transmitting particular portions of display information, a plurality of decoders for receiving the particular portions of display information, and a transmission channel connecting the encoder to the plurality of decoders, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
comparing, for each portion of display information, received display information to previously received display information, determining relative changes in display information, and providing update data corresponding to the changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the particular portion of the display information displayed;
generating a first message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of decoders, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form first information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the relevant display location of each of the particular portions of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
generating a second message stream including the plurality of first identification codes, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each said update data in a relevant display location for a particular portion of display information, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one information identification code and one display coordinate thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for each particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
generating a third message stream including associated sets of the second information identification codes and the corresponding update data;
receiving the first, second and third message streams at each decoder and, for each decoder,
associating the decoder with one of the display identification codes;
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and storing in a memory device of the decoder each first information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code;
recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code and storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the memory device;
recognizing a second information identification code in a third message stream, receiving the update data associated with the recognized second information identification code, and storing the received update data in the memory using the previously received display coordinates for that update data, thereby to update the stored portion of display information.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising:
providing the decoder with a video screen wherein the associating step associates the one identification code with the video screen; and
generating a visual display of the stored portion of display information on the video screen.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising selecting the display coordinates associated with the second information identification code for each update data wherein the recognizing step stores the received update data in response to recognizing the associated second information identification code in the third message stream using the selected display coordinates.

42. The method of claim 39 further comprising:
generating a fourth message stream including a plurality of the second information identification codes, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to positioning each update data in a relevant display location of the portion of display information, and a plurality of the display identification codes, each of the second information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code and display coordinate thereby to form second information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of the update data for a particular portion of display information each decoder is authorized to receive;
wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving the fourth message stream at each decoder and, for each decoder, recognizing the one recognized display identification code in a fourth message stream and storing any display coordinates and any second information identification codes associated with the one recognized display identification code.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein each portion of display information associated with the same second information identification code is updated by the same one third message stream.

44. A system for distributing signals containing display information including financial market information and realtime television program information signals comprising:
a transmitter including
means for providing a first signal corresponding to received financial market information;
means for receiving television program information signals and information for transmitting the television program information signals in a time period corresponding to a picture frame of television program information signals;
a multiplexor for receiving the television program information signals and the first signals and for providing multiplexed signals having a plurality of transmission lines of a predetermined line time and a time length corresponding to the time period and containing first signals and television program information signals during the same transmission line time, wherein at least one of said transmission lines includes an active video portion of a field transmission line and first signals in the active video portion;
a plurality of receivers for receiving the multiplexed signals including financial marker information and television program information signals wherein each receiver further comprises:
a demultiplexor for receiving the multiplexed signals and separating the first signals and television program information signals;
a memory for storing the received first signals whereby the memory contains the financial market information capable of being displayed on a video screen;
a receiver signal generator for providing the television program information signals for display; and
a transmission channel connecting the transmitter to the plurality of receivers.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein each receiver further comprises:
a video screen;
a second receiver signal generator for displaying the contents of the memory on the video screen; and
a switch for selectively displaying the television program information signals and the memory contents so that the financial market information and television program information signals are visually displayed on the same video screen.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals wherein the transmitter receiving and providing means is further characterized by:
means for converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information; and
a transmitter signal generator providing the first signals including a first message stream and a second message stream,
the first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of receiver video screens, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the particular portions of display information and television program information signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display,
the second message stream including information identification codes for the television program information signals and for the portions of display information to be transmitted in the time period and the portion of display information and the television program information signals to be transmitted in the time period;
and wherein each receiver is further characterized by:
means for associating each receiver video screen with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing an information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
second means for recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code and for receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals associated with the recognized information identification code.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the second recognizing means receives the portion of the multiplexed signals corresponding to a portion of display information for storage in the memory in response to recognizing an information identification code for that portion of display information that the associated video screen is authorized to display.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the second recognizing means receives the portion of the multiplexed signals corresponding to the television program information signals for display on the associated screen in response to recognizing an information identification code for television program information signals that the video screen is authorized to display.

49. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the transmitter converting means is further characterized by:
means for comparing received financial market information to previously received financial market information and for determining changes in financial market information;
means for providing update data and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location on a video screen, the update and display coordinates corresponding to the determined changes in financial market information, wherein the plurality of information identification codes correspond to update data for a portion of display information and television program information signals.

50. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals, the transmitter receiving and providing means is further characterized by:
means for converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information;
means for comparing received portions of display information to previously received portions of display information and for determining changes in such portions of display information; means for providing update data and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location of the portion of display information on a video screen, the update data and display coordinates corresponding to the determined changes in the portion of display information; and
a transmitter signal generator having a first message stream and a second message stream,
the first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to each relevant display location of update data for a portion of display information on a video screen, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of receiver video screens, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code-display identification code-display coordinate sets indicative of the display location of update data for a particular portion of display information each video screen is authorized to receive and display, and to form information identification code-display identification code sets indicative of the particular television program information signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display, the second message stream including associated sets of information identification codes for the television program information signals and for the update data of portions of display information to be transmitted in the time period and the corresponding television program information signals and update data transmitted in the time period;
and wherein each receiver is further characterized by:
means for associating each video screen with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing each information identification code and any display coordinates for update data for a portion of display information associated with the one recognized display identification code; and
second means for recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code and for receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals associated with the recognized information identification code.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 wherein each receiver memory further comprises means for storing the portion of the received first signals corresponding to the update data using the previously received associated display coordinates for that update data.

52. The apparatus of claim 50 further comprising means for selecting the display coordinates associated with the information identification code for each update data, wherein each receiver memory further comprises means for storing the portion of the received first signals corresponding to the update data for the recognized information identification code using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

53. The apparatus of claim 45 wherein the system distributes securely restricted display information signals, the transmitter receiving and providing means is further characterized by:
means for converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information;
means for comparing received portions of display information to previously received portions of display information and for determining changes in such portions of display information;
means for providing update data and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location on a video screen, the update data and display coordinates corresponding to the determined changes in the portion of display information; and
a transmitter signal generator having a first message stream, a second message stream, and a third message stream,
the first message stream including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of video screens, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form first information identification code-display identification code sets indicative of the display location of the particular portions of update data and television program information signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display,
the second message stream including the plurality of first identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information having a first information identification code, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to each relevant display location of update data for a portion of display information on a display screen, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code-second information identification code-display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of update data for each particular portion of display information each video display is authorized to receive and display,
the third message stream including associated sets of the first information identification codes for the television program information signals and the corresponding television program information signals transmitted in the time period, and associated sets of the second information identification codes for the update data to be transmitted in the time period and the corresponding update data,
and wherein each receiver is further characterized by:
means for associating each video screen with one of the display identification codes;
first means for recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing each first information identification code associated with the one display identification code;
second means for recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code for update data and for storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code; and
third means for recognizing a second information identification code in a third message stream and for receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals associated with the recognized second information identification code.

54. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein each receiver further comprises fourth means for recognizing a first information identification code in a third message stream corresponding to television program information signals and for receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals associated with the said recognized first information identification code.

55. The apparatus of claim 53 wherein each receiver memory further comprises means for storing the received first signals corresponding to update data in a third message stream using the previously stored associated display coordinates.

56. The apparatus of claim 53 further comprising means for selecting the relative visual display location of financial market information and television program information signals to be displayed on its video screen, each receiver memory further comprising means for storing the received first signals corresponding to the update data for the recognized second information identification code using the associated selected display coordinates.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein the transmitter provides a second message stream to provide the selected display coordinates for the selected display location of the portion of display information.

58. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the transmitter receiving means further comprises:
means for providing the display information as digital signals, the transmitter further comprises a first circuit for adding parity bits to the digital signals according to a selected error detection and correction code, thereby outputting codewords;
a first interleaving memory buffer for receiving a first number n of codewords along a first axis and outputting the buffer contents along a second axis that is rotated to the first axis, thereby forming the first signals, and
wherein each receiver further comprises:
a second interleaving memory buffer for receiving the first signals along the second axis and outputting the buffer contents as n codewords along the first axis; and
an error detection and correction circuit and for removing the parity bits according to the selected error detection and correction code, thereby reconstructing digital signals corresponding to the input to the transmitter first circuit.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the transmitter first circuit the receiver and error detection and correction circuit provide for detecting two errors and correcting one error.

60. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the number of codewords n in the interleaving memory buffer varies in response to the amount of television program information signals to be transmitted in each time period.

61. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the television program information signals are digital signals.

62. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the television means receiving means further comprises means for time compressing the television program information signals.

63. A method for distributing signals containing display information including financial market information and realtime television program information signals comprising:
receiving financial market information for visual display from a first source and providing a first signal corresponding to the received financial market information;
receiving television program information signals and information for transmitting the television program information signals in a time period corresponding to a picture frame of television program information signals from a second source;
multiplexing the television program information signals and the first signals and providing multiplexed signals having a plurality of transmission lines of a predetermined line time and a time length corresponding to the time period and containing first signals and television program information signals during the same transmission line time wherein at least one of the transmission lines includes an active video portion of a field transmission line and first signals in said active video portion;
transmitting the multiplexed signals to a plurality of receivers and, for each receiver,
demultiplexing the multiplexed signals and separating the first signals and television program information signals; and
storing the received first signals in a memory device which contains the financial market information capable of being displayed on a video screen.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising selectively displaying the television program information signals and the memory contents on a video screen so that the stored financial market information and received television program information signals are visually displayed on the same video screen.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the method distributes securely restricted display information signals wherein receiving the financial market information and providing the first signals further comprises converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information; and wherein multiplexing the television program information and first signals further comprise;
generating a first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of receiver video screens, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the particular portions of display information and television program information signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display, and
generating second message stream including information identification codes for the television signals and for the portions of display information to be transmitted in the time period and the corresponding television program information signals and portions of display information to be transmitted in the time period;
whereby the first signal comprises the first message streams and the non-television program information signal portions of the second message streams and, for each receiver,
associating each receiver video screen with one of the display identification codes;
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and storing an information identification code associated with the one recognized display identification code in a memory device of the receiver; and
recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code and receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals associated with the recognized information identification code.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein receiving a portion of the multiplexed signals receives the portion of display information for storage in the memory in response to recognizing an information identification code for that portion of display information that the receiver video screen is authorized to display.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein receiving a portion of the multiplexed signals receives the television program information signal for display on the receiver video screen in response to recognizing an information identification code for that television program information signal that the receiver video screen is authorized to display.

68. The method of claim 65 wherein the converting step is further characterized by:
comparing, for each portion of display information, received financial market information to previously received financial market information and determining relative changes in financial market information providing update data corresponding to changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the display of the particular portion of display information on a video screen, and
providing the plurality of update data with information identification codes corresponding to the particular portion of display information.

69. The method of claim 64 wherein the method distributes securely restricted display information signals, and wherein receiving the financial market information and providing the first signals further comprise:
converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information;
comparing, for each particular portion of display information, received portions of display information to previously received portions of display information, determining relative changes in such portions of display information providing update data corresponding to changed display information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the display of the particular portion of display information on a video screen, and providing update data with information identification codes corresponding to the particular portions of display information; wherein multiplexing the television program information and first signals further comprises:
generating a first message stream including a plurality of information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal, a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to each relevant display location of update data for a portion of display information on a video screen, and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of receiver video screens, each of the information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form information identification code - display identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the display location of update data for a particular portion of display information each video screen is authorized to receive and display, and to form information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the particular television program information signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display;
generating a second message stream including associated sets of information identification codes for the television program information signals and for the update data of portions of display information to be transmitted in the time period and the corresponding television program information signals and update data transmitted in the time period;
whereby the first signal comprises the first message streams and the non-television program information signal portion of the second message stream, and, for each receiver,
associating each video screen with one of the display identification codes;
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and for storing each information identification code and any display coordinates for update data for a portion of display information associated with the one recognized display identification code in a memory device; and
recognizing an information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored information identification code, and receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals in the second message stream associated with the recognized information identification code.

70. The of claim 69 further comprising selecting the display coordinates associated with the information identification code for each update data, and storing the portion of the received first signals corresponding to the update data for the recognized information identification code in the memory device using the selected display coordinates for that update data.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the method distributes securely restricted display information signals wherein receiving the financial market information and providing the first signals further comprise:
converting the received financial market information into particular portions of display information, comparing, for each particular portion of display information, received portions of display information to previously received portions of display information and determining relative changes in such portions of display information providing update data corresponding to changed financial market information and display coordinates for positioning the update data in a relevant display location for updating the display of the particular portion of display information on a video screen, and providing the update data with information identification codes corresponding to the particular portions of display information,
wherein multiplexing the television program information and first signals further comprises
generating a first message stream, including a plurality of first information identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information and to each television program information signal and a plurality of display identification codes each corresponding to one of the plurality of video screens, each of the first information identification codes being associated with at least one display identification code thereby to form first information identification code - display identification code sets indicative of the display location of the particular portions of display information and television signals each video screen is authorized to receive and display,
generating second message stream including the plurality of first identification codes corresponding to each portion of display information, a plurality of second information identification codes corresponding to update data for a particular portion of display information having a first information identification code, and a plurality of display coordinates corresponding to each relevant display location of update data for a portion of display information on a display screen, each of the second information identification codes being associated with one first information identification code thereby to form first information identification code - second information identification code - display coordinate sets indicative of the relevant display location of update data for each particular portion of display information each video display is authorized to receive and display, and
generating a third message stream including associated sets of the first information identification codes for the television program information signals and the corresponding television program information signals transmitted in the time period, and associated sets of the second information identification codes for the update data to be transmitted
in the time period and the corresponding update data, wherein the first signals comprise the non-television program information signal portion of the first, second and third message streams and, for each receiver,
associating each video screen with one of the display identification codes;
recognizing the one display identification code in a first message stream and storing each first information identification code associated with the one display identification code in the memory device;
recognizing a first information identification code in a second message stream corresponding to a stored first information identification code for update data and storing the second information identification code and the display coordinates associated with the recognized first information identification code in the memory device; and
recognizing a second information identification code in a third message stream and receiving the portion of the multiplexed signals in the third message stream associated with the recognized second information identification code.

72. The method of claim 71 further comprising, for each receiver, recognizing a first information identification code in a third message stream corresponding to television program information signals and receiving the television program information signal associated with the recognized first information identification code.

73. The method of claim 71 further comprising selecting the relative visual display location and size of financial market information and television program information signals to be displayed on a given receiver video screen and storing the received first signals corresponding to the update date for the recognized second information identification code in the memory device using the associated selected display coordinates for display on the given receiver.

74. The method of claim 63 wherein the transmitting step further comprises:
providing the display information as digital signals;
adding parity bits to the digital signals according to a selected error detection and correction code, thereby outputting codewords;
interleaving codewords in a memory buffer by inputting a first number n of codewords along a first axis and outputting the memory buffer contents along a second axis that is rotated to the first axis, thereby forming the first signals, and for each receiver:
interleaving the first signals in a memory buffer for inputting the first signals along the second axis and outputting the memory buffer contents as n codewords along the first axis; and
removing the parity bits according to the selected error detection and correction code, thereby reconstructing digital signals corresponding to the provided digital signals.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising selecting an error detection and correction code for detecting two errors and correcting one error in each codeword.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein the number of codewords n in the interleaving memory buffer varies in response to the amount of television program information signals to be transmitted in each time period.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 wherein the number n is inversely related to the amount of television program information signals.

78. The method of claim 75 wherein the transmitting step further comprises modulating the output of the first interleaving memory buffer to a modulated digital signal, thereby forming the first signals, and for each receiver, demodulating the received first signals to a digital signal corresponding to the output of the first interleaving memory buffer.

79. The method of transmitting display information including alphanumeric characters suitable for display on a pixel-based video screen comprising the steps of: defining the pixel-based display area as a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns, each cell having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each cell having a preselected location relative to an origin, and each pixel in each cell having a preselected location relative to a cell origin;
selecting the cell dimensions to correspond to the dimensions of a normal-sized alphanumeric character of display information;
providing each alphanumeric character to be displayed with a unique byte of data representing that character;
providing the display information in digital form so that there is one or more bits of data for each pixel;
processing the digital display information to identify each display cell containing an alphanumeric character and replacing the bits of data for each pixel in said identified display cell with the byte of data corresponding to the identified alphanumeric character; and
transmitting the processed digital display information so that one byte of data per cell is transmitted for each identified cell containing an alphanumeric character and one or more digital signals per pixel are transmitted for each cell not containing an alphanumeric character.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the one or more bits per pixel are transmitted either pixel row by pixel row or pixel column by pixel column in each cell.

81. The method of claim 79 wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the display information one cell at a time.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein transmitting the display information one cell at a time further comprises transmitting the display information either cell row by cell row or cell column by cell column.

83. The method of claim 79 further comprising run length encoding the display information to be transmitted for contiguous cells having the same alphanumeric character and transmitting run length encoded signals for the same byte of data in said contiguous cells.

84. The method of claim 80 further comprising run length encoding the display information to be transmitted for contiguous pixels having the same display information and transmitting run length encoded signals for the same bits of data in said contiguous pixels.

85. The method of claim 79 wherein processing the display information further comprises identifying the portion of the display information that has changed since the display information was last received, and wherein transmitting display information further comprises transmitting a selected portion of the display information in the form of a tile comprising a selected number of contiguous rows and columns of cells, an offset from the origin, and at least the changed display information.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein transmitting a tile of display information further comprises successively transmitting the display information for the cells in the tile, one cell at a time, either cell row by cell row or cell column by cell column, using cell wrapping so that the successively transmitted cells are capable of being stored in a memory relative to the tile offset and the selected number of tile rows and columns.

87. The method of claim 86 further comprising receiving the transmitted signals at a receiver, processing the received signals to convert the one byte of data for cells having one byte per cell into multiple bytes of data per cell corresponding to the pixel representation of the character, and storing the received and any converted signals in a memory device.

88. The method of claim 87 further comprising mapping the transmitted tile of display information onto a display tile having a second selected number of rows and columns of cells and a second offset in the memory of the receiver so that the transmitted tile of display information not falling within the second selected rows and columns of the display tile are not stored in the memory.

89. The method of claim 79 further comprising receiving the transmitted signals at a receiver, storing the transmitted display information in a memory device at the receiver and displaying the stored contents of the memory device on a video screen associated with the receiver.

90. The method of claim 89 wherein processing the display information further comprises identifying the portion of the display information that has changed since the display information was last received, transmitting display information further comprises transmitting a selected portion of the display information in the form of a tile comprising a selected number of contiguous rows and columns of cells relative to the origin and including at least the changed display information, and wherein storing the transmitted display information further comprises writing the transmitted cells of display information over the contents of the memory so that displaying the contents of the overwritten memory displays the changed and unchanged display information.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein displaying the contents of the memory further comprises displaying a portion of the contents of the memory as a display tile with implied motion.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising adjusting the address of the contents of the portion of the memory to imply the movement in the display tile.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein adjusting the address further comprises changing the memory address of the contents of the memory corresponding to the transmitted tile in response to receiving update data for the display.

94. The method of claim 92 wherein adjusting the address further comprises adjusting the display location of the contents of the memory as the memory contents are being displayed.

95. The method of claim 79 wherein defining the display area further comprises providing on the order of one hundred cell columns and thirty cell rows.

96. The method of claim 79 further comprising providing each cell with sixteen pixel rows and eight pixel columns.

97. Apparatus for transmitting display information including alphanumeric characters suitable for display on a pixel-based video screen comprising:
a pixel-based display area organized as a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein each cell includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and has a preselected location relative to an origin, and each pixel in each cell has a preselected location relative to a cell origin, the cell dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a normal-sized alphanumeric character of display information;
means for providing each alphanumeric character to be displayed with a unique byte of data representing that character;
means for providing the display information in digital form so that there is one or more bits of data for each pixel;
means for processing the digital display information to identify each display cell containing an alphanumeric character and replacing the bits of data for each pixel in said identified display cell with the byte of data corresponding to the identified alphanumeric character; and
means for transmitting the processed digital display information so that one byte of data per cell is transmitted for each identified cell containing an alphanumeric character and one or more digital signals per pixel are transmitted for each cell not containing an alphanumeric character.

98. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein the transmitting means transmits the display information one cell at a time.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein the transmitting means transmits the display information either cell row by cell row or cell column by cell column.
100. The apparatus of claim 97 further comprising means for run length encoding the display information to be transmitted for contiguous cells having the same alphanumeric character wherein the transmitting means transmits run length encoded signals for the same byte of data in said contiguous cells.
101. The method of claim 100 wherein the run length encoding means run length encodes the display information to be transmitted for contiguous pixels having the same display information, wherein the transmitting means transmits run length encoded signals for the same bits of data in said contiguous pixels.
102. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein the processing means further comprises means for identifying the portion of the display information that has changed relative to previously received display information, and wherein the transmitting means transmits a selected portion of the display information in the form of a tile comprising a selected number of contiguous rows and columns of cells for displaying at least the changed display information, and an offset from the origin for positioning the tile in the proper relative location for updating the portion of display information.
103. The apparatus of claim 97 further comprising means for storing the transmitted display information in a memory device at a receiver and means for displaying the stored contents of the memory device on a video screen associated with the receiver.
104. The apparatus of claim 103 wherein the processing means further comprises means for identifying the portion of the display information that has changed relative to previously received information, and wherein the transmitting means transmits a selected portion of the display information in the form of a tile comprising a selected number of contiguous rows and columns of cells relative to the origin and including at least the changed display information, and wherein the storing means stores the transmitted display information by writing the transmitted cells of display information over the contents of the memory relative to the origin so that the contents of the overwritten memory contains the changed and unchanged display information.
105. The apparatus of claim 104 wherein the displaying means displays a portion of the contents of the memory as a display tile on the video screen with implied motion.
106. The apparatus of claim 105 further comprising means for adjusting the address of the contents of the portion of the memory to imply the movement in the display tile.
107. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the adjusting means changes the memory address of the contents of the memory corresponding to the transmitted tile in response to storing update data in the memory.
108. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein the adjusting means adjusts the display location of the contents of the memory as the memory contents are being displayed.
109. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein the display area further comprises on the order of one hundred cell columns and thirty cell rows.
110. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein the display area further comprises each cell having sixteen pixel rows and eight pixel columns.
111. Apparatus for identifying changes in successive frames of video signals for updating an image display of the video signals comprising:
means for separating the video signals into successive frames of display information, each frame having a vertical sync pulse and a plurality of horizontal sync pulses;
means for providing each frame of display information as a plurality of pixels organized in a plurality of cells, each cell having a plurality of pixels;
a first memory containing a first pixel map corresponding to the pixels of the image display; and
a comparator for comparing the pixels of one frame of display information to the corresponding pixels of the preceding frame of display information and the first pixel map, one cell at a time, the output of the comparator indicating when the corresponding pixels of the one frame are the same as the pixels in the preceeding frame and different from the pixels in the first pixel map; and
means for determining whether a cell contains pixel change data based on the indicated changed pixels of the cell.
112. The apparatus of claim 111 further comprising:
a circuit for providing the pixel data for the cells of the one frame determined to have pixel change data for updating the corresponding pixels of the image display; and
means for updating the first pixel map with the pixels data so that the first pixel map corresponds to the updated image display.
113. The apparatus of claim 111 further comprising a second memory for storing the pixels of the one frame of display information for use as the pixels of the preceding frame for comparison with the next frame of display information.
114. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein the providing means further comprises a converter for converting analog video signals to digital video signals.
115. The apparatus of claim 114 wherein the converter comprises:
a first converter for converting the analog signals to m-bit digital values at a first sampling rate; and
a second comparator for comparing the m-bit digital values to a plurality of mapping thresholds and converting the digital values to n-bit pixels, where m is not equal to n.
116. The apparatus of claim 115 wherein the converter further comprises a phase lock circuit for providing a clock signal phase locked to the pixel frequency and for sampling at the midpoint of each pixel, thereby to minimize aliasing of a frame of display information.
117. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein the video signal further comprises a plurality of discrete video signals and the providing means further comprises means for providing each discrete video signal as a plurality of pixels having corresponding horizontal and vertical sync pulse; further comprising:
a switch for selecting one of said plurality of discrete video signals for processing one frame of display information at a time; and
a second memory for storing the plurality of pixels of the preceding selected frame of display information for each of the discrete video signals, wherein said first memory further comprises one pixel map for each frame of display information for each discrete video signal that is displayed.
118. The apparatus of claim 117 further comprising means for operating the switch to select one frame from each of said plurality of discrete video signals before selecting a second frame from any one discrete video signal.
119. The apparatus of claim 118 wherein the plurality of discrete video signals further comprises three signals of a composite color video signal, wherein the providing means provides synchronized horizontal and vertical sync pulses for said three signals.
120. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein the comparator compares one pixel of the one frame to the corresponding one pixels of the preceding one frame and the first pixel map at a time.
121. The apparatus of claim 111 wherein the determining means determines whether a cell contains pixel change data based on the sum of the magnitudes of the change of intensity of each pixel in the cell.
122. The apparatus of claim 112 wherein the determining means determines whether a cell contains pixel change data based on the cumulative weighted sum of the absolute value of the indicated changes of intensity of each pixel in the cell since the corresponding pixels of the image display were last updated, further comprising means for indicating that the cell contains pixel change data when the cumulative weighted sum of each cell exceeds a predetermined count threshold.
123. The apparatus of claim 121 wherein the determining means further comprises:
a first adder for summing the weighted count of the intensity change for each pixel in a given cell of the first frame that is the same as the corresponding pixel in the second frame and different from the corresponding pixel in the first pixel map;
a cell change RAM for maintaining a cumulative count of the weighted count of the changed pixels for each cell of a frame display information;
a second adder for summing the count of the first adder and the cumulative count of the cell change RAM for the given cell and storing the sum as the cumulative count; and
a second comparator for comparing the second adder sum to a predetermined count threshold and indicating that the given cell contains pixel change data when the second adder sum is above the predetermined count threshold.
124. The apparatus of claim 123 further comprising:
means for transmitting the pixel change data of the given one cell to update the corresponding cell of the image display in response to the second adder sum being above the predetermined count threshold;
means for updating the first pixel map with the pixel change data of the first frame in response to transmitting the pixel change data of the given one cell to update the image display; and
means for resetting to zero the cumulative count of the cell change RAM corresponding to the given one cell in response to transmitting the pixel change data of the given one cell to update the image display.
125. The apparatus of claim 124 further comprising means for adjusting the predetermined count threshold in response to the number of transmitted cells of pixel data to update the display so that the threshold is higher during more frequent transmissions and lower during less frequent transmissions.
126. The apparatus of claim 124 wherein the second comparator further comprises:
a memory log for identifying each cell indicated to contain pixel change data, and wherein the transmitted means transmits the pixel change data for each cell identified in the memory log to update the display image following comparing all cells of a selected frame.
127. The apparatus of claim 123 wherein the pixels in each cell are compared one pixel at a time.
128. The apparatus of claim 111 further comprising:
means for counting the weighted number of pixels in a given cell of the first frame that have changed relative to the corresponding pixels of the first pixel map; and
means for determining when the counted weighted number exceeds a predetermined count threshold, thereby indicating that the given cell contains pixel change data.
129. The apparatus of claim 128 further comprising means for updating the first pixel map with the pixel change data of each cell of the first frame having determined pixel change data.
130. A method for identifying changes in successive frames of video signals for updating an image display of the video signals comprising:
(a) separating the video signals into successive frames of display information, each frame having a vertical sync pulse and a plurality of horizontal sync pulses;
(b) providing each frame of display information as a plurality of cells, each cell having a plurality of pixels;
(c) creating and maintaining a first pixel map corresponding to the pixels of the image display;
(d) comparing the pixels of one frame of display information to the corresponding pixels of the preceding frame of display information and the first pixel map one cell at a time;
(e) indicating changes in the display information when the corresponding pixels of the one frame and the preceding frame are the same and are different from the corresponding pixels in the first pixel map; and
(f) determining whether a cell contains pixel change data based on the indicated changed pixels of the cell.
131. The method of claim 130 further comprising:
(g) providing an output video signal containing the indicated different pixels of each cell having pixel change data for updating the corresponding pixels of the image display; and
(h) updating the first pixel map with the indicated different pixels of each cell having pixel change data so that the first pixel map corresponds to the updated image display.
132. The method of claim 130 further comprising storing the pixels corresponding to the one frame of display information as the preceding frame for use as the preceding frame for comparing the next frame of display information in step (d).
133. The method of claim 130 wherein step (b) further comprises determining when the video signals are analog signals and converting analog video signals to digital video signals.
134. The method of claim 133 wherein converting analog video signals to digital further comprises converting the analog signals to an m-bit digital values at a first sampling rate and mapping the m-bit digital values to n-bit pixels, where m is different than n.
135. The method of claim 134 wherein step (b) further comprises providing a clock signal phase locked at the pixel frequency and for sampling at the midpoint of each pixel, thereby to minimize aliasing of a frame of display information.
136. The method of claim 135 wherein providing a phase locked clock signal further comprises adjusting the time of occurrence of the horizontal sync pulse to maintain the correct sampling rate and phase.
137. The method of claim 130 wherein the video signals further comprises a plurality of discrete video signals and further comprising separately processing each video signal by steps (a) and (b), selecting one frame of pixel data for one said discrete video signal and applying steps (c), (d) (e) and (f) to the one selected frame, and thereafter selecting another frame of pixel data from among the discrete video signals, one frame of pixel data at a time, and applying steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) to each selected said other frame.
138. The method of claim 137 further comprising selecting one frame from each of said plurality of discrete video signals before selecting a second frame from any one discrete video signal.
139. The method of claim 138 wherein the plurality of discrete video signals further comprises three signals for a composite color video signal wherein step (a) provides synchronized horizontal and vertical sync pulses for said three signals.
140. The method of claim 137 wherein step (b) further comprises, for each discrete video signal:
determining when the video signals are analog video signals;
converting the analog video signals into digital video signals at a first sampling rate; and
phase locking the sampling frequency of the pixel data and phase sampling at the midpoint of pixel, thereby to minimize aliasing of the frame of display information.
141. The method of claim 130 wherein step (d) further comprises comparing one pixel at a time.
142. The method of claim 130 wherein step (f) further comprises:
(g) maintaining a cell change counter for each cell of a frame of display information, and, for each cell,
(i) comparing the pixels of one cell of one frame of display information to the corresponding pixels in the preceding frame and the first pixel map;
(ii) identifying the weighted number of changed pixels in said one cell;
(iii) summing the weighted number of changed pixels in said one cell with the contents of the cell change counter corresponding to said one cell and storing the weighted sum in said cell change counter;
(iv) comparing the weighted sum to a predetermined count threshold; and
(v) determining that the one cell contains pixel change data corresponding to update information in response to the weighted sum exceeding the predetermined count threshold.
143. The method of claim 142 wherein step (g) further comprises:
updating the first pixel map with each cell of the one frame determined to contain pixel change data; and
transmitting the pixel data for each cell determined to contain pixel change data of the one frame to update the image display.
144. The method of claim 143 wherein step (g) further comprises adjusting the predetermined count threshold in response to the number of transmitted cells of pixel data so that the count threshold is higher during more frequent transmissions and lower during less frequent transmissions.
145. The method of claim 142 further comprising:
creating a record identifying each cell indicated to contain pixel change data, and, following processing of the cells of a frame;
transmitting the pixels for each cell of the one frame identified in the created record to update the display image;
storing the pixels of each identified cell of the one frame in each corresponding pixel locations in the first pixel map;
storing the pixels corresponding to the one frame of display information as the pixels for the preceding frame of display information; and
clearing the contents of the cell change counter for each identified cell.
146. The method of claim 142 wherein the pixels in each cell are compared one pixel at a time.
147. The method of claim 145 wherein the pixels in each cell are compared one pixel at a time.
148. The method of claim 130 wherein steps (e) and (f) further comprise:
determining the weighted number of pixels of each cell that have changed relative to the corresponding pixels of the first pixel map; and
determining that a cell has pixel change data when the determined number of changed pixels exceeds a predetermined count threshold.
149. The method of claim 148 further comprising:
updating the first pixel map for each cell having pixel change data and transmitting the pixels of each cell having pixel change data to update the image display.
150. The method of claim 130 wherein step (f) further comprises determining whether a cell contains pixel change data based on the sum of the magnitude of the intensity change of each pixel in the cell.
Description
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention relates to the distribution of information and, more particularly, for distributing this information in a secure and restricted manner to a plurality of users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Applicant and other related companies are in the business of distributing realtime financial market information to various clients who use this information to carry on their business. When a client subscribes for this service, an agreement is entered into in which the client indicates what information is desired and how many video screens will be displaying the information. Based on these parameters, a fee is assessed to the client and the information then is transmitted to the client.

Typically, this financial market information is transmitted to clients as one or more pages or records that may be displayed on a video screen, portions of which, from time to time, are updated to reflect changes in the market information. Various clients subscribe to view different specific groups of these pages and/or records.

An early method of distributing market information was based upon the transmission of a single page of real time digital information over a single telephone line. Page-oriented information (ROW #, COL #, CHARACTER STRING) was sent from the information vendor's computer over a telephone network to a controller, provided by the information vendor, located at the client site. The page-oriented information was subsequently converted to video by a video generation unit within the controller. The video output was then connected to a video screen by a single coaxial cable.

Each full page was repeatedly transmitted in video at a field rate for realtime display, similar to that of a television transmission. However, once the video signal was produced, there was nothing, except the personal integrity of the client, to prevent the client from connecting any number of video screens to a video distribution amplifier connected to the controller, driving a larger number of video screens above and beyond the number stated in the agreement. This practice dilutes the revenues to which the information vendor would ordinarily be entitled.

This architecture was costly and unreliable because of the large amount of hardware needed to place financial information on a large number of trading desks. For example, if a client's trading room had thirty traders, each trader needed his own single-user system resulting in thirty keyboards, thirty controllers with thirty internal video generation units, thirty telephone cables, thirty modems, thirty coaxial video cables, and thirty video screens to receive and display the required financial information.

This technology also limited the screen presentation format to what was provided by the information vendor. When traders were only interested in one or two fields of information on a screen, they would have to display the entire page of information. If they wanted to look at one or more fields of information on a second screen at the same time, an entire additional single-user system would be required. Further, when two traders wanted to look at the same page, they would either have to have two separate single-user systems or the video information would be redistributed to a "slave" video screen making it difficult for the information vendor to know how many video screens were connected to a given controller and hence how many people were viewing their information. This made billing difficult and usually created a process of surprise client-site visits that left both information vendor and client unhappy.

The development of multi-user systems reduced the amount of required hardware and enabled users to share resources and view common information. In multi-user systems, each trader had one keyboard and several video screens. Through the use of video switching techniques, thirty traders could share perhaps ten or fifteen controllers and contend for their use. Since many traders are part of a trading group that uses essentially the same financial market information, the probability of blocking (not having a controller available to fulfill a new page request) was small.

Such multi-user systems helped reduce costs by reducing the number of controllers, keyboards, and system cabling, but did not solve either the billing problems or allow the user to customize screen presentation formats.

Later, single telephone line, multi-page distribution systems were developed which reduced the required number of telephone lines. The information syntax for these multi-page sources was slightly modified to (PAGE #, ROW #, COL #, CHARACTER STRING). Users of such systems also could create composite pages (fields from different pages displayed simultaneously on one video screen) and calculate and insert additional value-added information (e.g., bond yield to maturity). By doing so, customized output display pages could be created showing only the information and value-added calculations the user wanted to see.

Users developing value-added applications based upon page oriented data had to assign a symbolic name to an information field located at a specific display location of the input source page. When the information vendor changed the presentation format of the information (i.e., the location of a specific data element), as often happens when financial instruments are either added or deleted, the value-added application had to be modified. To overcome this difficulty, and to supply basic information without display parameters, the information vendor created record-oriented sources using the syntax (SYMBOLIC NAME, CHARACTER STRING). Examples of such a system are the Reuters Integrated Data Network and the Telerate TIQ Feed.

Despite the foregoing advances in the field of electronic financial information distribution systems, current systems still allow video screens to be added and/or moved freely without either the information vendor's knowledge or consent. Further, each video screen must be connected by its own single-video "home-run" cable, i.e., a cable that typically runs for hundreds of feet between the trading floor where the video screen is located and the equipment room where either a controller, video switch output, or a host computer is located.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of securely providing restricted information.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system which is capable of uniquely identifying each of the video screens authorized to display information, to restrict this information to only these individual video screens, to identify which of the information these video screens are to display, and to present only authorized information on each and every video screen; unauthorized video screens would only present unintelligible transmogrified versions of the information.

It also is a object of the present invention to provide a financial information distribution system that is capable of taking inputs simultaneously from both multiple information page and/or record-oriented input sources (e.g. video, digital and/or live television) and a multitude of keyboards, to create a multitude of different output displays for concurrent display on a multitude of video screens all interconnected by a single cable, such that the video screens may contain different combinations of portions of different input sources of information.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a financial information distribution system in which each video screen has a unique display identification code that is used to authorize viewing and/or to permission what input source information each individual video screen will be capable of displaying at any given time.

It is a another object of the present invention to facilitate the ability to provide each user's video screen(s) with a customized output display.

It is yet another